The 16th Annual LBC Research Symposium will take place from April 24th through April 28th 2023 in Holmes Hall. You can find the full schedule of events and presentations here.
This site is hosting the virtual portion of the event and you will find several student presentations in the recent posts. Awards for the best presentations will be announced at the MSUFCU Poster session on Monday April 24th in Holmes Hall.
Several online submission for the LBC Virtual Research Showcase can been seen in the previous posts or link via the following.
Author: Sara Xhaja; 3rd year Human Biology Undergraduate
Faculty Mentor: stef shuster
Abstract
The semester long paper I completed in LB326B explored if the current state of the U.S. healthcare system is equipped to take care of people with varying citizenship statuses or if it’s negligent and further enabling present health disparities by answering the question, how does the legality of a person, in regard to citizenship status in the United States, affect one’s accessibility to healthcare? In order to answer this question, the analysis focused on the stigmas surrounding migrant populations, barriers to care, and the intersectionality in the U.S. healthcare system. Prior research highlights that “research on the effect of immigration status on population health disparities… is more limited,” with studies focusing on one’s nativity to the country rather than how one’s legal status impacts health disparities. This is a gap that must be addressed as there exists different classes of migrants within the U.S. population and a “focus on nativity rather than legal classification may obscure the health problems the most vulnerable group members face” (Asad and Clair, 2018).
The Michigan State University Horse Teaching and Research Center (HTRC) is open to the public every day. In 2022, 865 Michigan State University students took part in classes at the HTRC, representing only a fraction (1.74%) of the 49,696-student population. This study explored how student participation in a horse activity influenced their attitude toward horses. MSU students (n = 115) were recruited for this study using a campus wide poster campaign, Facebook posts, club and class announcements. Students were randomly divided into 3 activity groups: Guided walk primarily taking place on a farm lane with no opportunity to observe horses (n = 37); a self-guided tour of HTRC with the opportunity to both observe and interact with horses (n = 38); and grooming a horse (n = 40). Students completed a pre and post activity survey immediately before and after their 30-min activity. Both surveys included 8 questions regarding attitudes toward horses using a 5-point Likert scale. Five questions were modeled after the Pet Attitude Scale and 3 questions described what students might experience during their activity (do you like observing, caring for, or petting a horse). A repeated-measures ANOVA in SPSS showed that mean horse attitude scores improved significantly between pre and post test overall (F(1, 112) = 39.879, P < 0.005) and there were no differences between activity groups. During registration, student demographics were collected, and students answered questions about their previous horse experience. Most students participating in this study were undergraduates (78.2%, n = 90). Participants represented 14 colleges across campus, with the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources leading student participants at 36.5% (n = 42). Students described their horse experience as either inexperienced (34.8%, n = 40), novice (31.3%, n = 36), intermediate (14.8%, n = 17), experienced (9.6%, n = 11), or advanced (7.0%, n = 8). Most participants (82.6%, n = 95) strongly agreed they would recommend others to visit the HTRC. Participants in the study also planned to participate in a horse activity in the next year (70.4%, n = 81) based on their experience in this study. While it is estimated the HTRC has 30,000 visitors each year, there is not any information as to whether MSU students utilize the farm outside of classes and organized events. These results support the idea that a visit to the campus horse farm can have a positive impact on a student’s attitude toward horses. This can be important as the equine industry investigates opportunities for individuals to engage in more horse-related activities.
Faculty Mentor: Christine Skelly – Department of Animal Science, MSU Extension
Faculty Mentor: Karen Waite: Department of Animal Science
Faculty Mentor: Gwyn Shelle: MSU Extension
Faculty Mentor: Paula Hitzler: Farm Manager: Horse Teaching and Research Center
Faculty Mentor: Thomas Guthrie: Jackson County Extension Office
Abstract:
This study explored the influence of participating in an equine assisted activity (EAA) on health care workers’ (HCW) attitude towards horses and their future participation in horse activities. The study, conducted at the Michigan State University Horse Teaching and Research Center (HTRC), randomly divided HCW (n=55) into three groups: Control – walk on farm roads with no EAA (n=17); Low EAA – self-guided tour of the HTRC with opportunity for horse interactions (n=20); and Mid EAA – grooming a horse under supervision (n=18). All HCW completed a pre- and post-survey immediately before and after their activity and received a riding lesson voucher at the end of their session. Pre- and post-survey data were analyzed using the repeated measures one-way ANOVA procedure in SPSS. A repeated-measures ANOVA in SPSS showed that mean horse attitude scores improved significantly between pre- and post-test overall (F(1, 52) = 15.89,?P?< .001), with no differences between groups. HCW were sent a one-year follow-up survey to determine if they used their vouchers and if not, why. The follow-up survey had a 65% return rate (n=34) and showed that only 14.7% (n=5) HCW used their voucher. Forty-seven percent of HCW who did not use their voucher selected lack of time as the primary reason. This study suggests that participating in an activity on a horse farm may improve HCW attitude towards horses regardless of their opportunity for horse interactions. However, lack of time is a prohibiting factor for HCW future participation in horse activities.
The 15th Annual LBC Research Symposium will take place from April 25th through April 29th 2022 in Holmes Hall. You can find the full schedule of events and presentations here.
This site is hosting the virtual portion of the event and you will find several student presentations in the recent posts. Awards for the best presentations will be announced at the MSUFCU Poster session on Monday April 25th in Holmes Hall.
Faculty Mentor: Volodymyr Tarabara, PhD. – Civil and Environmental Engineering
Mentor: Xunhao Wang – PhD student , Civil and Environmental Engineering
Abstract:
In the world today there are many viruses that are a concern to human health. These viruses are especially prone to be found in a hospital setting where individuals are being treated for viral infections. Fomites play an important role in the spread of viruses. Higher probability of transfer is associated with fomites in indoor environments and especially with surfaces that are frequently touched. In this study, we numerically estimated adhesion of several viruses (human respiratory syncytial virus, human adenovirus, and coronavirus) to a number of different surfaces (stainless steel, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride) commonly encountered in settings typical for health care facilities. Adhesion was quantified and interpreted based on physicochemical properties of viruses and fomites. Surface charge and hydrophobicity data were obtained in part from published literature and in part by experimental measurements. Hydrophobicity was determined based on measurements of contact angle on the surfaces of selected fomites. Virus-fomites interactions are predicted using the extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek theory. The obtained data can guide screening and selection of materials that discourage virus adhesion, help design anti-adhesive surfaces and develop surface cleaning solutions and protocols.
Metabolic flux is defined as the rate at which metabolic reactions proceed. The analysis of these fluxes is done through the lens of Metabolic Flux Analysis (MFA), where reaction kinetics are represented mathematically to describe flux over time for a set of metabolites in a pathway or network. Ultimately, the aim of MFA is the complete understanding of biological flux through metabolic networks under physiologic conditions. Concepts as complex as MFA must be broken down into understandable pieces before they can be understood, which has not (to our knowledge) been implemented in a structured, accessible, and hands-on way previously. To teach students about this process, we take advantage of the coding language Python. This gives students a chance to observe the kinetics used in the study of metabolic flux and actively observe how different kinetics equations can be applied, and their real-life consequences. We have selected Python as a teaching tool because it has been implemented before in many schools and institutions, mostly due to its beginner-friendly language allowing “common-sense” code strings that are easily readable. Using Python, I developed interactive simulations of metabolic activity that allow students to learn various concepts related to metabolism, including the impact of different assumed kinetics and how isotopic labels can move through a metabolic pathway.
Author: Simran Singh 4th year, Cognitive Neuroscience major
Abstract:
Maternal sensory signals play a crucial role in the function and structure of a developing brain; specific signals can work to promote vulnerability or plasticity to cognitive as well as emotional disorders. In rodent models of early-life stress, fragmentation as well as maternal lead exposure provoke emotional and cognitive dysfunction in offspring. Our model of early-life disadvantage will help us understand the development/neurobiological underpinnings of aggression and other antisocial behaviors in humans. We investigated the effects of maternal lead exposure and restricted home cage bedding on caregiving in female rats as well as lateral offspring socioemotional behaviors. The use of a laboratory rat model allows us to study the effects of early-life disadvantage on later social, affective, and reward-like behaviors. Female rats were mated and given 0.1% lead acetate in their drinking water or regular drinking water or left undisturbed. On the day of parturition, litters were weighed and culled. Dams were given standard amounts of bedding or low emulate low resource availability and continued to receive leaded or regular water consistent with their pregnancy condition. Offspring behavior entailed the testing of one male and female from each litter for anxiety-like behavior via elevated plus maze. Another female from each litter was mated and tested for maternal aggression towards an unfamiliar male intruder to the home cage. We hypothesize that chronic exposure to lead during prenatal life, alone or together with low maternal home cage bedding, will reduce mothers’ caregiving behaviors and affect socioemotional behaviors in the offspring.
Author: Megha Pratapwar, 2nd year Nutritional Sciences and Human Biology undergraduate
Faculty Mentor: Sarah Comstock, Food Science and Human Nutrition Faculty member
Abstract:
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of chemicals that are widely used in consumer products that can lead to adverse effects on health in exposed humans. Exposure usually occurs through dust, drinking water, and food. These chemicals break down very slowly and therefore can cause long-term contamination in both humans and the environment . Some possible health effects PFAS can have are decreased fertility, developmental delays in children, increased risk of some cancers, reduced immunity, and interference with hormones. PFAS levels in human milk have been positively associated with decreased diversity in the gut microbiome of 1 month old infants. A literature review identified the levels of various PFAS in human milk in countries around the world. Levels ranged from 0.0073 ng/mL to 24 ng/mL, with milk samples from Faroe Islands having the highest and milk samples from Sweden having the lowest levels of PFAS. This is part of a continuum of research that will eventually analyze the impact of PFAS exposure on the infant gut microbiota at 3 months of age. Since the infant gut microbiota membership is established early in life, understanding the exposures which can alter the composition of this microbiota will enable a clearer understanding of the mechanisms by which compounds, such as PFAS, impact health.
Faculty mentor: Adam Moeser, Department of Physiology faculty member Faculty mentor: A.J. Robison – Department of Physiology faculty member
Abstract:
Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE), the most frequent type of encephalopathy in the ICU, is associated with long-term psychiatric disturbances and higher sepsis-induced mortality. The pathophysiology of SAE involves changes in neurotransmitter levels as well as increased neuroinflammation, but how peripheral inflammation triggers these responses in the central nervous system remains unknown. Mast cells, the effector cells of the innate immune system, are uniquely positioned to play a key role in linking peripheral to central inflammatory responses: they are distributed throughout the body, including the brain; they can rapidly respond to bacterial endotoxins; and they can release a plethora of mediators that can initiate and amplify inflammation as well as alter neuronal and glial function. Here we crossed the Mcpt5-Cre mouse line with the Cre-dependent B6-iDTR (Jax®) mice to render mast cells susceptible to diphtheria toxin (DTX) ablation to determine both the acute and developmental roles of mast cells in hypothermia and neuroinflammation induced by peripheral administration of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We injected the F1 litters with 30 ng/g DTX every 7 days starting at different developmental stages until adulthood, when animals were challenged with an intraperitoneal injection of 1 mg/kg of LPS. We found that animals in which mast cells were ablated starting before postnatal day 14, but not later, showed a more severe hypothermic response as well as increased levels of the inflammatory cytokine TNFα in the periaqueductal gray, suggesting an early developmental role for mast cells in neuroimmune networks underlying sepsis-induced hypothermia and neuroinflammation.
